Reversible hair-protecting under-helmet hood

ABSTRACT

A convenient head-covering device that: is easy to put on and secure; provides a desirable amount of hair-do retention while protective head wear is put over the head; is thin enough that a hard hat or helmet fits snugly and properly over it for safety and comfort; fits the head securely without shifting during use with a helmet or hard hat; protects the helmet or hard hat lining from dirt, oils or styling products on the wearer&#39;s head; reduces static electricity from friction between the helmet and the hair and; is attractive to wear even when a helmet is not required and; is reversible providing two different aesthetics in one garment.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of PPA No. 60/864,935 filed on Nov.08, 2006 by the present inventor that is incorporated by reference.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

None

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

None

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention generally relates to a head cover, specifically to suchan article to be worn with a hard hat or helmet or other protectiveheadwear.

2. Prior Art

Wearing a helmet has become a necessary precaution for a great number ofrecreational activities and 2-wheeled methods of transport. Though thehelmet provides unparalleled protection to the head, it creates theundesired hair-messing and crushing after-effect known as “helmethead”—the matted and crimped appearance of one's hair after a helmet isremoved from the head. In the past there have been various clothingarticles for covering the head and acting as a lining between the wearerand a hard hat or helmet. These have included balaclavas that are longknit caps and stretch to conform closely to the shape of the wearer'shead. The wearer's hair is pulled uncontrollably into undesiredpositions and held that way when the elastic balaclava is pulled overthe head. Hair becomes bent, swirled, or crimped under the cap'sinherent clinging force. When the wearer removes the cap, their hair ismessed up and misshapen from the experience. Such effects areundesirable and discouraging to anyone who must wear a helmet or hardhat over their hair.

Other similar items are made as utilitarian liners to protect againstthe elements of cold, wind or sun. As well as being unattractive, thesehard hat lining hoods are too bulky to be worn under a helmet and maycover part of the face. None of the items mentioned thus far areattractive to look at, nor would they be worn as a fashionable item.Scarves or handkerchiefs are a third category. They must be carefullyplaced over the hair and tied in a knot. They are awkward to tie,unpredictable when a helmet slides over them, can shift position whenputting on or removing a helmet, and in shifting, can become too tightaround the chin or neck and move out of their desired position over thehair leaving hair, again vulnerable to unwanted crimps and bends.

In other inventions hair style protection devices protect portions of a“hair-do” while the wearer goes about their business, but they do notcover the head completely nor are they designed to withstand thestresses of a helmet being put on and taken off. While these items areeffective in some matters, none of them encompass all the qualities of:

-   -   allowing the wearer to control the way their hair lies when        donning the head cover and the head cover subsequently holding        the hair in place as desired, giving the utmost protection to        the wearer's hair-do while the head cover is worn being easy to        put on without the need to tie awkward knots or manipulate        awkward closers    -   remaining securely in position while a helmet, hard hat or other        protective piece of headwear is being put on or taken off    -   reducing the creation of static electricity on the hair due to        friction caused by sliding a helmet over the hair    -   being of such nominal thickness that a piece of protective        headwear may easily slide over the head cover and fit properly        for safety and comfort    -   having an attractive appearance, enough so that it may be worn        even when protective head wear is not    -   being reversible so that the wearer may choose the colour and/or        pattern they wish to be visible as it suits them.

Therefore, no prior art simultaneously accomplishes the goal ofproviding a convenient head-covering device that: is easy to put on andsecure; provides the desirable amount of hair-do retention whileprotective head wear is put over the head; is thin enough that a hardhat or helmet fits snugly and properly over it for safety and comfort;fits the head securely without shifting during use with a helmet or hardhat; reduces static electricity from friction between the helmet and thehair and; is aesthetically pleasing in part due to its reversibility.

SUMMARY

Broadly, the embodiments of my head cover may be described as a novel,attractive head covering, reversible and useful in protecting thewearer's hair and helmet lining. Thus the reader will see that at leastone embodiment of the improved under-helmet hood provides for a smoothfaced, non-elastic cap that fits snugly to the head and secures easilyunder the chin to provide protection both to the wearer's hair-do fromshifting and bending, as well as protection to the interior of theprotective head wear from styling products and natural oils. Thisprotection also reduces the occurrence of static electricity caused byfriction between the wearer's hair and the helmet or hard hat, and isalso aesthetically pleasing and reversible.

Additional objects, advantages and features of the present device willbecome apparent from the following description and accompanying claims,when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

DRAWINGS—FIGURES

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the front of the head-covering hoodshowing the under-chin snap unfastened.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the rear of the head-covering hoodshowing the under-chin snap unfastened.

FIG. 1C is a perspective of the left side view of the hood constructedin accordance with the device showing the under-chin snap unfastened.

FIG. 2 is a perspective of left side view of the hood on a wearershowing the reversed face to the exterior, the snap is fastened.

FIG. 3 is a perspective of the hood on a wearer with a helmet.

FIG. 4-5 are perspectives of the hood being inverted or reversed toexposed an alternate aesthetic appearance.

FIG. 6 is a perspective of a possible variation on the shape of thehood.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

10 helmet hood 11 layer A 12 layer B 13 reinforced under-chin points 13A non-woven interface 14 mechanical closer 15 neckline 16 contourline 17 face opening 18 form-fitting top panel  19A form-fitting sidepanel, right side  19B form-fitting side panel, left side 20 center backseam 21 point at crown of head

DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIGS. 1-3—PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The embodiments described below in reference to the foregoing figuresare not all-inclusive of potential embodiments, but represent the morepreferred and critical embodiments necessary to accomplish the variousobjects. Accordingly, while there are various preferred embodiments asabove noted, the proceeding figures illustrate the most preferredcombination. Once an element is described and numbered for oneembodiment, the description is not repeated for other figures except incertain instances to improve clarity of understanding.

FIG. 1A and B are front and rear views, respectively, of a novelhead-covering apparatus or hood, generally indicated as 10. It iscomprised of two opposite (one inward and one outward) layers of wovenfabric A & B, 11 and 12 respectively, which are sewn or fused togetherin a contiguous seam leaving no opening between them. Layers A and B 11and 12 are identical, each being comprised of a form-fitting top panel18 and form-fitting right and left side panels 19A and B. The threepieces are cut and sewn along contour seams 16 and back seam 20 tocreate contiguous 3-dimensional curves that fit the contour of the domeof a person's head. These individual pieces can vary in their individualshapes and configuration, but when assembled together ultimatelycomprise a dome-like form such as would fit the form of a person's head.

Layers A and B 11 and 12 are aligned and matched with one another, theircorresponding domes and their corresponding perimeters matched forshape. In the matched state, the inner and outer fabrics are sewn orfused together along their corresponding matched edges with the fabricsfaced back-to-back. In other words, the desired or good side of eachlayer facing out and the back side is inside the sewn-together garment.The hood is enclosed from the top, sides and back all of which meet at apoint at the crown 21. The open portion along the front and bottom iscomprised of a face opening 17 and a neckline 15 and is large enough toallow the hood to fit over the head. The face opening 17 is asubstantially vertical rounded cut-out that is high and wide enough tocircumscribe the face. As a result of the described critical cutting andshaping, when the hood is worn, the face opening 17 circumscribes thewearer's forehead and face. It is positioned behind a wearer's eyes,above the brow line and in front of the ears. The horizontal bottom edgeof the neckline 15 extends forward and down below the wearer's jaw tothe under-chin points 13. These points 13 are long enough to overlapeach other under the wearer's chin.

FIG. 1C is a perspective of the hood 10 shown from the left side. Thisview shows the under-chin points 13 more clearly. The points 13 are eachreinforced with an additional layer of fabric or interfacing 13A whichcompletely encompasses the area where a conventional mechanical closer14 occurs in order to fortify the fabric against the wear and tear ofthe mechanical closer's manner of being secured to the fabric and itssubsequent use. The extent of the interfacing 13A is shown as a dashedline to illustrate that it is enclosed between layers A and B 11 and 12within the sewn hood 10 and not at all outwardly visible.

The closer 14 is secured in accordance with its manufacture to one ofeach of the under-chin straps in such a position as to secure one pointto the other in a flat and unobtrusive profile. The current notion forthis closer is decorative snap, though other types of closer could alsobe used.

The first and second woven fabric layers are of a substantially commonweave and composition and are selected from the group consisting ofsatins, silks, rayons, and other smooth-faced material.

FIG. 2 is a perspective of the left side of the under-helmet hood 10 ona wearer shown reversed with layer B 12 to the outside and layer A 11(not shown) to the inside with the closer 14 in a closed position. Theleft side contour seam 16 is symmetrical to that on the right side. Thecontour seam 16 allows the hood 10 to conform to the curve of the headand create a snugly-fit form. The face opening 17 and neckline 15 arealso symmetrical. The face opening 17 occurs outside of the wearer'speripheral vision yet covers the hair line. The under-chin points 13overlap from their respective sides to bring the two parts of themechanical closer 14 into alignment and into a secured closed position.The neckline 15 circles from the nape of the neck to under the chin.

FIG. 3 illustrates how the helmet hood 10 is worn under a helmet Theform fitting profile keeps the wearer's hair stationary while the helmetis being pulled onto the head and provides a smooth surface between thehair and the helmet lining allowing hair to remain in place and not begripped by the helmet lining pulling it into undesirable positions.

FIGS. 4-5 show the hood 10 being inverted from having layer A 11 facingoutward to the same layer being turned to inward. As shown, the point onthe crown 21 is inverted and pulled through the void that comprises theface opening 17 and the neck line 15. In this reversed position as shownin FIG. 5 the layer B 12 is the outward facing layer and layer 11 facesinward.

FIG. 6 is the hood 10 in a possible variation of form. In this figurethe top panel 18 extends from the face opening to the neckline 15. Thepoint at the crown of the head 21 and the back seam 20 are negated inthis variation. The shape and configuration of the individual fabricpanels come together to fit the dome of a person's head in the samemanner as the form illustrated in FIGS. 1A through 5.

Apart from the broad description of these embodiments, the soleinvolvements are to use conventional and/or known fabric technology forabove-designated preferred fabrics and methods. The two separate fabricfaces have substantially identical inner and outer cross-sections and/ordimensions. Obviously, the head cover's dome shape is cut and sewn tohave an inner diameter that corresponds to a person's skull or headouter diameter with adjustments made in the cutting of the panels toaccommodate larger or smaller heads. Accordingly, the presentembodiments of the under-helmet hood and the method does not lie inspecific dimensions but in the simplicity of the above broadly-describedsteps. Likewise the steps of cutting and sewing involve conventionalwell known technology, requiring no specific description thereof.

Operational Description FIGS. 1-6

FIGS. 2-3 illustrate the hood 10 being worn. To wear the hood 10, onesimply slides the open hood onto the crown of the head with the faceopening 17 to the front. The dome-shaped contour seams 16 sitcomfortably on the dome of the head. The face opening 17 circumscribesthe face. The wearer then takes hold of the under-chin points 13, pullsthem close to the chin overlapping them in accordance with themechanical closer's 14 orientation (one side over the other) and fitsthe closer securely together into the closed position. With the hood 10securely in place the wearer can now smoothly and easily slide the hardhat, protective head wear or helmet (as shown in FIG. 3) over the hood10 and head with the hair safely in place under the silky protectivehood 10. The hood 10 protects the wearer's hair from becoming ensnarledin the often textured interior lining of the helmet.

FIGS. 4-5 show the hood 10 being inverted or reversed to expose theopposite layer of fabric to the outside. To reverse the hood, one simplypushes the point at the crown 21 from the outside through the openingthat is, the combined face opening 17 and the neckline 15, until theopposite layer is fully exposed to the outside. This embodiment providesthe added advantage of two aesthetic choices in one garment.

The hood 10 as shown in all FIG. 6 is operated in a similar manner as inall other FIGS by sliding the hood over the head and securing the closer14 under the chin. In the case of FIG. 6 the top panel 18 and contourseams 16 extend over the crown of the head and terminating at theneckline 15 negating the need for back seam 20 or the point at the crownof the head 21. This variation is worn and is reversible in the samemanner as FIGS. 1A through 5.

Conclusions, Ramifications and Scope

The reader will see that, according to one embodiment of the device, Ihave provided a novel under-helmet hood; to allow the wearer to controlhow hair is being held under the hood; to allow hair to slide inside thehood without being gripped by the surface texture; to provide separationbetween the head and the helmet lining so that condensation will notdampen hair thus crimping it; to protect the helmet lining from the hairproducts and/or natural oils present on the head; to give the wearer twoaesthetic options by reversing which side faces out; and to provide anattractive head cover when the hood is worn without a helmet. While theabove description contains many specificities, these should not beconstrued as limitations on the scope of any embodiment, but asexemplification of the presently preferred embodiments thereof. Manyother ramifications and variations are possible within the teachings ofthe various embodiments. For example the hood may be elongated to extenddown the neck for further protection, it be made of any number ofmaterials for fashionable looks, it may be vented with gaps or mesh toallow heat and moisture to escape, its shape could be altered for asculptural affect, the shape could be extended under the chin to allowfor any number of methods of securing the hood to the head includingtying a knot, it may be worn while dressing or trying on clothes toprevent the buildup of static electricity on the hair, along with manyother possible variations.

Thus the scope of the device should be determined by the appended claimsand their legal equivalents, and not by the examples given.

1. I claim a head-covering device comprising: a) a fabric garment fitted to the shape and size of a human head, b) said fabric garment comprising two substantially equal fabric layers (11) and (12), c) said layers being sewn or fused together with the first said layer inverted into the second said layer, d) said fabric garment being sewn or fused together to be reversible to create one garment with two possible appearances, e) said fabric garment having means for closure (14) in order to secure it into position on a wearer's head, f) said fabric garment being of such nominal thickness that a helmet or other protective headwear may easily slide over the garment and fit properly for comfort and safety and, g) said fabric garment being constructed with such aesthetically pleasing materials and form whereby it may be worn as an article of fashion as well as protection to hair and helmet lining. 